Board approves Prop. 28 arts-and-music annual report; eight sites used funds last year

Atascadero Unified School District trustees voted to approve the district’s Proposition 28 annual report for fiscal year 2024–25, which summarizes how the state’s arts-and-music funds were used and will be posted on the district website as required by state rules.

District staff said Prop. 28 funds were allocated to sites based on enrollment and average daily attendance and that principals had discretion to spend the allocations after review by each site’s School Site Council. "Funds were allocated to all of our sites based on enrollment and ADA," said the district presenter. "The sites who were able to utilize money last year were ACE Academy, Paloma Creek, Atascadero High School, Monterey Road, Santa Margarita, Santa Rosa Academic Academy, San Gabriel and San Benito."

The presenter told trustees the fund is "extremely restrictive" and must be used for activities that are "above and beyond" preexisting arts offerings; that limited some sites’ ability to spend in the first year despite allocations. The district said it will partner with principals and educational services to build district-level metrics and help sites expend funds within the three-year spend-down period established by the state.

A board member asked whether district staff evaluate the effectiveness of site programs so successful practices can be shared; staff said principals and School Site Councils conduct local evaluation and that district-level metrics will be developed in partnership between educational services and the presenter.

Trustees approved the report by roll-call vote; the report will be linked on the district website per state reporting requirements.